- support new and existing projects based on volunteerism in order to last over time. Collective procurement projects, sharing wifi, collective composters are also promoted.

A Web platform allows for monitoring of and participating in projects that have already been implemented. The currency exchange system between residents works because it is based on the SEL approach (1 hour = 10 CEECs).

There are many reasons why residents want this project to be developed. Some are there to meet people and make social connections. Others are there for the economic, practical or political aspects.

Themes

This project is particularly interesting because: the testing period lasted so long (2 years); the in-depth definition of uses in the neighbourhood (like impressing the “good” to facilitate exchanges with people who do not have Internet at home); and implementing the platform at the very beginning of the development of neighbourhood platform projects more than 3 or 4 years ago.

Interesting points about the project:

- Profiles on the platform use apartment numbers. - One of the projects developed on the platform is a system for group purchases where the person in charge of the group purchase is paid in the neighbourhood’s local currency.

This project aims to develop exchanges between neighbours and to maximize these exchanges. Beyond the social connections created which is one of the project’s fundamental points, this initiative helps to develop the residents’ autonomy. Furthermore, it responds to ecological issues since most of the services are implemented on a hyper local level.

The Peconome project could not be further developed in part due to the lack of a workplace or a place to store food and other items. Dominique, a neighbourhood resident in charge of developing the initiative explains, “We didn’t have a room big enough to organize collective projects, the Internet isn’t enough and we need a place to meet”.

The potential for this type of service is endless since many neighbourhoods could very well be interested in this type of platform. Moreover, the choice to develop the platform ourselves allows us to imagine that many people would own it.

The Peconome project stems from a research/action initiated by Siraj Izhar, a London architect and artist who was invited to do a residency at the Maison radieuse building in Rezé. Supported by Ecos (Rezé/Nantes) and in partnership with the Daniel Langlois Foundation (Canada), allowed workshops to be organized. Dozens of families participated. In 2009, the workshops were developed using a specially-created Peconome open source software.

One of the project’s business models is ownership by a fairly large number of interested people in various neighbourhoods in a way where each person helps develop the platform in some way. When needed, animation can be done through various local associations or by an intermediary for public services who can ensure the support of community residents.

Moreover, euros can enter the system thanks to recycling (4,000 € per year can be promoted by the public stakeholder thanks to the implemented recycling system). Products developed by the community, like compost for example, can also be sold.